Puzzle



(No Model.)

. J. NESBIT.

PUZZLE.

No. 581,678. Patented Apr. 27, 1897 a K a w a 9 I 1 y I w M! a v0 00 1% 0 0U (116 w 1* WITNESSES: INVENTOR Fm 3 [53'' HT;

Q MS 8 W ATTONEY' llnirrnn Srarns JOHN NESBIT, OF NEWARK, NElV JERSEY.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,678, dated April 27, 1897. Application filed August 4, 1896. Serial No. 601,672. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN NEsBIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys orPuzzles; andl do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to a novel form of toy representing the actions of an animal, such as a bird, cat, or other like animal, in the act of catchinga mouse, the object of the invention being to afford not merely am usement, but also a means of exercising or testing the quickness of observation of a player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new toy or puzzle which is simple and durable in construction, offering abundant opportunities to exercise good judgment and skill in rolling a ball in front of a pivotallyarranged magnet and causing said ball to be attracted and held by the pole-pieces of the said magnet.

The apparatus consists of a suitable baseboard having a circular groove and diverging grooves in which a metallic ball can be rolled to a centrally and pivotally arranged magnet, which is usually provided with the figure of a cat, bird, or the like. These parts are usually inclosed in a suitable box provided with a removable cover, and said baseboard is preferably made higher in the middle than at its edges, resembling somewhat in appearance a truncated cone. The puzzle is designed to be played by employing a metallic ball which by tilting the box, is caused to roll in said grooves, while the magnet turns on its pivotal support to bring the ball against the poles of the magnet, which will hold said ball in the well-known manner. The accuracy of observation and great skill of the player is therefore a very essential feature, which greatly enhances the interest in the puzzle or toy.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel form of toy or puzzle with the cover to the box removed ,and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the several parts of the apparatus and the magnet provided with a suitable figure, said View clearly illustrating the pivoted arrangement of the said magnet on the baseboard of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of said magnet and figure.

Similar letters of reference are employed in each of the said above-described views to indicate like parts.

the main bodyor base-board of the toy, which is preferably circular in outline and is sur' rounded by a suitable wall I), on which may be placed a cover I), as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2. Said body or base-board (t is bounded by a circular groove or channel a, forming a runway,and connecting said groove and a fiat central portion a is the cone-shaped surface a and a curved shoulder or offset (o substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In said u pwardly-inclinin g surface a, and diverging at desirable angles from the circular groove o are short grooves 01' channels a, whichterminate in certain flat surface portions a, forming part of the inclined surface a and directly in front of the shoulder a, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Fig. 2. Said base-board or body a has a centrally-arranged post 0, preferably provided with a washer c, on which is rotatively arranged a hollow tubular bearing (Z connected with a suitable magnet (Z, in the manner illustrated and to be fully described. Said tubular bearing (Z is secured in a suitable body d, of a plastic or other material, molded in the form of an animal, which is permanently secured upon and between the two arms (1 and d of the horseshoe magnet (Z, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 2 and In the present construction the body (1 is that of a cat, and (Z are its paws which are formed on the upper surfaces of the two pole ends (Z of the magnet (Z. Movably arranged in said annular groove or channel a in the base-board or body a is a metallic ball a, which can be rolled along the groove a into any one of the grooves or channels a and upon one of the fiat surface portions a when the device is properly tilted, the object being to so roll the ball and at the same time cause Referring to said drawings, a designates the pivotal or swinging motion of the magnet d upon its pin 0 that the pole ends of the magnet and said ball will meet at one of the said flat surface portions, whereby the ball will be attracted by the poles of the magnet and held in this position until the ball is again removed by the player.

The body 01, as has been stated, is made in the form of an animal, usually that of a cat, which is represented in the act of catching the ball and which of course is meant for a mouse, and by manipulating the device in the manner hereinabove described a simple toy is the result, which affords amusement to both old and young and requires great skill and good judgment to roll the ball directly in front of the pole portions of the rotativelyarranged magnet.

Of course it will be evident that changes may be made in the various details of construction of the parts comprising the toyas, for instance, the several grooves or channels may be differently placed and arranged, or the body d on the magnet may be entirely dispensed with, or said body may be made to represent a cat, dog, bird, human being, or any other desirable figure or object. I therefore do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the parts herein shown, but what I claim, broadly, is a base-board or main body having grooves or channels with a movable ball therein and a pivotally-arranged magnet adapted to attract said ball and hold it when the latter has been brought in close proximity to the pole end or pole ends of said magnet.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A toy puzzle comprising a base-board, intersecting grooves or channels in said board, a ball adapted to roll in said grooves or channels, and a pivotally-arranged magnet on said board, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A toy puzzle, comprising a base-board, a circular groove or channel a, diverging grooves or channels connected therewith, a flat central portion a a ball adapted to roll in said grooves or channels, and a pivotallyarranged magnet on said central portion a substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A toy puzzle, comprising a base-board a, a circular groove or channel a, a flat central portion a a cone-shaped portion a grooves a in said portion a intersecting with the groove a and terminating in the flat surface portions a, and a pivot-ally-arranged magnet on said central portion 0?, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A toy puzzle, comprising a base-board, 6o intersecting grooves or channels in said board, a ball adapted to roll in said grooves or channels, a post 0 on said base-board, a tubular bearing (Z on said post 0, a body portion, as cl, secured on said bearing (1 and a magnet secured to said body portion cl, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A toy puzzle, comprising a base-board, a circular groove or channel a, diverging grooves or channels connected therewith, a flat central portion a a ball adapted to roll in said grooves or channels, a post 0 on said flat central portion a a tubular bearing d on said post 0, a body portion, as 61, secured on said bearing (Z and a magnet secured to said body portion d, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A toy puzzle, comprising a base-board a, a circular groove or channel a, a flat central portion a a cone-shaped portion a grooves a in said portion a intersecting with the groove a and terminating in the flat surface portions a a post 0 on said flat central portion a a tubular bearing (2- on said post 0, a body portion, as d, secured on said bearing (F, and a magnet secured to said body portion (1', substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of July, 1896.

JOHN NESBIT.

VVitnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, WM. II. OAMFIELD, Jr. 

